Build welcoming and inclusive communities

34 ways to build stronger, better relationships between people of all

backgrounds
PLEASE NOTE: AMSSA provides these references and websites as information only, based on information
sourced from the Human Rights and Citizenship, Alberta Ministry of Culture and Community Spirit and
the Ministry of Seniors and Community Supports.
Source: http://culture.alberta.ca/helpmakeadifference/default.aspx
No matter our background or personal characteristics, we all want to be treated fairly and with respect, and
to be included and have the opportunity to participate fully in our communities and workplaces. In order
to build strong and welcoming communities and workplaces, we need to ensure people are not excluded or
discriminated against because of their personal characteristics. Canadas human rights legislation prohibits
discrimination based on the following personal characteristics: race, religious beliefs, colour, gender,
physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family
status and sexual orientation. Each one of us can help make a difference:

We are each unique and need to understand, respect and value our differences.
We each have a responsibility to build a society where people are valued and get along.

We can all change the future of our communities and workplaces to be more welcoming and inclusive by
treating each other with respect and fairness in our day-to-day lives.
There are many ways that you can make a difference in your community and in your workplace. These 34
tips are a starting point to build stronger, better relationships between people. Sometimes this may mean
taking a step outside your comfort zone.
Take a look at yourself
1. How much do you know about your own culture? How does it affect your beliefs, attitudes,
customs and behaviour? In what ways is your culture different from the culture of other people you
know? Even if you do not have an easy label to describe your cultural background, which may be
quite a blend of cultures, it is an important part of who you are.
2. In addition to culture, what other characteristics influence your point of view? How do they affect
your beliefs, attitudes, customs and behaviour? How do they interact with your cultural background
to affect your beliefs and actions? How do these factors affect the customs and behaviour of
people around you? The blend of many factors such as gender, culture and disabilities influences
who we are.
3. Dont make assumptions about people. Give people a chance to demonstrate what they are really
like. Stereotypes are assumptions that classify people in a narrow way, based on very little
information. Catch yourself stereotyping people: jumping to conclusions or making assumptions
about people based on their skin colour, gender, dress, accent, disability, lifestyle or other factor.
Recognize that first impressions are often based on stereotypes or past experiences and therefore
may not be correct.
4. Remember that your views are simply one take or perspective on a subject. Realize that other
people have different perspectives. Try to find common ground instead of assuming that you or
the other person will have to give in.
1

5. Talk with family and friends about prejudice, gender stereotyping, discrimination and racism.
Encourage acceptance of differences. Help others learn how to respond to prejudice.
Look around you - get to know your community
6. Notice the diversity among people in your neighbourhood and compare it to the groups you
belong to. Who do you see? Who is missing? If there are differences, think about why that is.
7. Learn about the countries immigrants come from. Look the countries up in an atlas or on the
Internet.
8. Learn about various faith and spiritual groups in your community. Attend a bazaar, fair or festival
that youve never been to before. Ask about having a tour of a local temple or mosque, for
example.
Get involved in your community or neighbourhood
9. Volunteer for a community group where you will help or work with people of diverse backgrounds.
Ask about immigrant settlement and multicultural agencies, neighbourhood houses, or other
organizations where you can help a newcomer learn about life in Canada and how to get settled in
your community.
10. Meet your neighbours. Introduce yourself and have a conversation. Invite them to join you for
coffee or a meal. If they are going away, offer to pick up any flyers that are delivered or to keep an
eye on their place. Dont hold back from being neighbourly because they are from a different
culture or background, or have a family composition that is different from your own.
11. If, as a family member, you stand on the sidelines watching your child play a sport, start a
conversation with another bystander. Notice which people come alone and have no one else to talk
to. Talking about the children or the game is a good conversation starter. You could suggest
carpooling with them.
12. Invite a spiritual leader from another faith or spiritual group to speak to your community
association or a group you belong to. This way you will add some diversity to your agenda and the
dialogue may help you come up with new ideas and activities.
13. Encourage your community association and community facilities (libraries, swimming pool, fitness
centres, etc.) to find ways to include members of different ethnic groups, people with disabilities,
and others who might feel excluded in their meetings and activities. Suggest topics for newsletter
articles that reflect the communitys diversity. Offer to write an article or interview someone.
14. Take advantage of opportunities to promote positive media coverage of a wide range of people and
events in your community. Spot negative or sensational media coverage of individuals or groups
based on their backgrounds, gender, disabilities or other characteristics that encourages stereotypes
and creates misunderstandings. Let the media outlet know you dont approve.

Learn something new

15. Be open to learning about new ideas and ways of doing things. Encourage your friends, children,
and other family members to do the same.
16. Try something new; Eat a new kind of food, go to a different grocery store or bakery, attend a
foreign movie or rent a foreign video or DVD.
17. Introduce yourself and your children to a wide variety of experiences different kinds of stories,
music, dance and art.
18. Read a Canadian novel. Ask at your local library for authors such as Rohinton Mistry, Kerri
Sakamoto, Yann Martel, Austin Clarke, Shani Motoo and Carol Shields. The diverse perspectives of
Canadian writers are all part of Canadas culture. If you belong to a book club, discuss what makes
these authors Canadian.
19. Learn more about the celebration of different holidays (Chinese New Year, Hannukah, Divali,
Kwanzaa, etc.) There may be public events or festivities in your community that you can attend.
Dont just think about them as fun events. Try to find out about the teachings and beliefs that
these celebrations recognize. You may learn about customs that you would like to incorporate into
your own celebrations.
20. Try learning another language or at least a few words in the language of a friend, neighbour or coworker. They will be impressed by your effort and interest. Even the simple act of trying to
pronounce a persons name correctly is appreciated.
21. Participate in events to mark significant diversity and United Nations International Days, such as
International Womens Day on March 8, International Day for the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination on March 21, National Aboriginal Day on June 21, and Canadian Multiculturalism
Day on June 27. Also recognize Persons Day on October 18, the International Day of Disabled
Persons on December 3 and International Human Rights Day on December 10.
Talk with others
22. Listen carefully to someone that you think has an accent. Dont assume he or she doesnt speak
English just because the accent is different from yours. If you listen carefully, you can get
accustomed to any accent.
23. Pay attention to your body language and the body language of others. Body language can
communicate a lot about your interest in what another person is saying. How you sit, what you do
with your hands, the expression on your face and your gaze send a stronger message than your
words. How much do you know about cultural and gender differences in body language? Dont
make assumptions about others body language based on your own.
24. Get to know the people you meet. Ask them questions and show interest in the work they do, their
customs, their language, their disability, etc.
25. Dont assume that every member of a visible cultural group is a recent immigrant. Many have lived
in Canada for generations. If you ask the question Where are you from? you may find that the
answer will be Manitoba or Vancouver and not the distant country you were assuming.
26. Share stories with someone you know. Tell about your upbringing and background and learn about
theirs. Learn about other Canadians (people in your community / province) and their
contributions. A conversation that starts about food or superstitions, for example, may develop
3

into a discussion of beliefs and values.

27. Some people like to be asked how they prefer to be addressed (Mrs. Miss, Ms, Dr., etc.) Likewise,
ask people how they wish to be described (Native, First Nations, etc) rather than using your own
labels. Think about whether you really need to use any label at all. After all people are individuals,
not simply members of a particular group.
28. Avoid telling jokes that make fun of others or that make them look inferior or unintelligent. Ethnic
jokes, and jokes based on gender, disability or other personal characteristics put down or demean
members of a group. The safest jokes are those you tell about yourself and something that
happened to you.
29. Speak up if you hear remarks or jokes that are offensive or hurtful. Let others know that you are
not interested in hearing jokes that put down or make fun of people. You can say Please keep that
kind of joke/comment to yourself. Or I dont find that funny. Or I dont appreciate that kind
of humour.
Make a difference at work
30. Ask yourself if you tend to avoid contact with people who have different backgrounds or
characteristics than you, or whom you have difficulty understanding. Make an effort to talk to them
and learn more about them. Taking the first step is often the hardest. Once you get to know people
a bit, you will likely feel more at ease with them.
31. If you are having communication difficulties with another person, stop and analyze what
interference or static may be getting in the way. Could it be because the person is from a
different culture, is of a different gender, or has a disability? Is a combination of culture, disability,
gender and other differences causing the static? These factors may affect the way people react to
situations but do not necessarily cause the problems themselves. Think of differences as only one
piece of the puzzle.
32. Be open to new ways of solving problems and looking at issues. People of diverse backgrounds
provide a broad range of solutions and can offer new ways of addressing concerns instead of the
same old ways. Remember that a wider range of perspectives may challenge your thinking, but
could lead to new solutions.
33. Is there anyone in your workplace who consistently gets left out, whether at work or in social
situations, or whose comments are not really listened to? Try to figure out why that is and find
ways to include that person. People who are in a minority in a workplace may not feel part of the
larger group or may feel uncomfortable drawing attention to themselves and speaking up.
34. If you make a remark to a co-worker that you realize afterwards is insensitive or inappropriate, try
to correct the situation by apologizing immediately. If you let the remark stand, it may continue to
be a source of upset or annoyance. It could even affect the other persons performance or attitude
about the workplace.

Respect for All Pass It On!

www.safeharbour.ca